The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has denied an appeal by Virginia Intermont College to hold on to its accreditation. SACS cited a number of financial issues in saying that the college should not continue to be accredited, and loss of accreditation would deny students eligibility for federal student aid. The college announced that it is seeking a federal injunction to block SACS from removing accreditation, pending further legal actions. College officials said that the institution was starting the semester with plans to continue operating.